First Alerts

Texas legislators in the House and Senate have begun one of their most important tasks, budgeting. As the early versions of each budget have been released, it is plain they have different goals in mind.

According to the Texas Tribune article, Analysis: Legislators start with a $5.3 billion difference of opinion, the Senate aims to make at least $690 million in cuts to higher education, while the House calls for legislators to find funding for programs or cut the programs altogether.

KXAN Austin reports the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals' decision, keeping Hazlewood Act restricted to veterans who enlisted in Texas. SCOTUS rules based on the stand taht Texas has the irght to regulate their education system.

As the 85th Legislature beings, there is no hint our lawmakers will decide to modify the Legacy Component of Hazlewood, leaving it an unfunded mandate affecting not only tuition costs for all students, but overall university budgets as well.

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick set seven interim charges for the Senate Committee on State Affairs to research during the interim. In this First Alert, we will review the Committee recommendations for Governor Patrick’s seventh charge, which instructed committee members to monitor the implementation of campus carry.

Lt. Dan Patrick set eight interim charges for the Senate Committee on Higher Education to research during the interim. In this First Alert, we will review the recommendations for Lt. Governor Patrick’s second charge, performance-based funding of universities.

In an under-reported statement, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said he would cut tenure for professors who can “work 20 hours a week and get paid $150,000 for writing a novel about William Shakespeare’s love interests,” according to The Daily Texan on September 26.